Remodel or Remuddle

Remodeling Without a Conscience

Remodel or Remuddle? Everyone knows what remodeling is but what is remuddle?

Remuddling is to remodel a building or room in a way that obscures or destroys key aspects of the original design.

 

There’s a ton of stuff to read out there that portray the remodeling process as fun, glamorous and exciting. What’s missing is the stressful,rutted path that most remodelers travel to achieve a great looking finished project.

Many problems and surprises are common to the remodeling process. A little mental preparation will go a long way toward smoothing out this process.

Ben Franklin said over 200 years ago…. Common sense isn’t so common, and I have seen some crazy things done to houses. These pictures are also good testament for the need to plan ahead.

Images from : russianfun.net

Here are some pointers to consider when planning a remodeling project:

Educate yourself:
Ask questions, look at other projects and research your products and materials before starting. There is a ton of “product” compare and contrast information available at supply and on the Internet.

Set a realistic budget:
The days of $75 per square foot construction costs are long gone; realistically, today you should allow from $200 to $300 per square foot, depending on the size, complexity, and quality of your remodel. Extensive kitchen or bath remodels will cost even more. If you plan to hire an architect, add an additional 12-15 percent fee to the total.

Know where to save and where to spend:
It’s easy to be lured by trendy designs, but high-fashion items are notoriously bad investments. Spend your money where it counts: on quality doors, windows, roofing, and finishes.

When considering doing some of the work yourself be realistic about how much you can do and how well you can do it.
Finish carpentry is not the place for on-the-job training — novice work can ruin an otherwise top quality project.

Choose your contractor by what he’s built, not by what he says he’ll build:
Always ask for references, and then follow up on them. Most contractors are dedicated, competent and take great pride in their work — and they’ll be glad to let their references prove it. “let your work speak for itself. . . autograph your work with excellence” – Anonymous

Prepare yourself for the “unknowns, unforeseen and hidden conditions:
More expense, more time, more disruption, and more problems than you planned on. Surprises of one kind or another are common and predictable when working with existing buildings — expect them before hand to avoid the stress.

If you need design help, get it:
That 12-15 percent architect’s fee may sound like a waste of money until you find yourself spending $30,000 to correct errors or add items you’ve forgotten. Usually this cost pays for itself in problems later.

At a minimum you need a well-detailed set of plans if you plan to bid the job out:
In my opinion, vague plans encourage low bidding and invite many hidden / costly “extras” later on. Not having a detailed plan usually means two different contractors bidding on the same project will not arrive at the same conclusions and make many assumptions…. some of which become costly changes or hidden extras later.

The correct result should be an “apples to oranges comparison”

Remember… Not having a well detailed or drawn out plan means that the contractors bid only on what “they gleaned” from your verbal meetings.

By being informed, expecting the unexpected, careful planning and using common sense you can minimized stress, costly errors and maximize your budget to arrive at a spectacular project.